Steelers depth chart: Projected starters, position battles and where the draft picks fit (2024)

It wasn’t that long ago that the Steelers wouldn’t even consider playing a rookie, let alone starting one.

That mostly was on the defensive side of the ball with 13 years between when Kendrell Bell in 2001 and Ryan Shazier in 2014 were Day 1 starters. Since Shazier, four rookies have started for the Steelers on defense: Javon Hargrave, Sean Davis, T.J. Watt and Devin Bush.

This year, things are a little different, and it’s a good bet rookies are going to play a significant role, especially on offense. Some likely will be handed starting jobs at the outset of camp.

First-round running back Najee Harris and third-round center Kendrick Green are pretty good bets to start Week 1, and second-round tight end Pat Freiermuth likely will see plenty of playing time as well. Even fourth-round tackle Dan Moore Jr. has a chance to play early and will be thrown in the mix to compete at left tackle.

The Steelers drafted four players on offense, four players on defense and one specialist and added eight priority free agents after the draft.

With rookie minicamp, two weeks away and OTAs starting in four weeks, this is what the Steelers roster looks like after adding 17 players during the draft.

Offense (43 players)

QUARTERBACK:There wasn’t any change other than extending Mason Rudolph through the 2022 season 10 minutes before the start of the draft. That gives the Steelers at least have one quarterback under contract after this season; Ben Roethlisberger’s extension voids a couple of days after the Super Bowl, and Josh Dobbs and Dwayne Haskins are free agents two months later. Even though Roethlisberger seems to have one last run at a championship in him, nothing is stopping him from signing another one-year deal next year. But it looks like Rudolph will take over next year, considering the extension and the decision not to draft a quarterback. Haskins could be the wild card in all of this. Mike Tomlin went out of his way to talk up Haskins last week saying, “it’s exciting from a coaching perspective with one of those guys being a 22-year-old guy like Dwayne Haskins who was viewed globally as having first-round talent just a short time ago.”

Depth chart (4): Ben Roethlisberger, Mason Rudolph, Dwayne Haskins, Josh Dobbs

RUNNING BACK: When you use a first-round pick on a running back the caliber of Najee Harris, you can pretty much pencil him as a Day 1 starter. The only reason why second-rounder Le’Veon Bell didn’t start the season in 2013 was because of an injury he suffered in the preseason. Tomlin loves his bell cows and Harris is one of those. He touched the ball over 700 times during his collegiate career and there’s no reason to think he won’t push the 275-touch mark as a rookie. The only question is who is No. 2 and would there be specific roles for Benny Snell Jr., Kalen Ballage, or Anthony McFarland? Likely not.

Depth chart (7): Najee Harris, Benny Snell Jr., Anthony McFarland, Kalen Ballage, Derek Watt, Jaylen Samuels, Trey Edmunds

WIDE RECEIVER: The Steelers passed on drafting a wide receiver for the first time since 2011 and only the second time since 2005. That just tells you how deep the position is with the surprising return of JuJu Smith-Schuster, who joins Chase Claypool, Diontae Johnson, James Washington and Ray-Ray McCloud. It is hard not to imagine this is the group that will end up being on the final 53-man roster. They added Tyler Simmons and Matthew Sexton while watching other player’s pro days; signed Rico Bissey and Isaiah McKoy after the draft and kept last year’s practice squad players, Anthony Johnson and Cody White. Three top receivers will be free agents after the season, but having Claypool and Johnson as a base for 2022 isn’t bad at all.

Depth chart (11): JuJu Smith-Schuster, Chase Claypool, Diontae Johnson, James Washington, Ray-Ray McCloud, Cody White, Matthew Sexton, Anthony Johnson, Tyler Simmons, Rico Bussey, Isaiah McKoy

TIGHT END: Pat Freiermuth was the highest-drafted tight end by the Steelers since Miller in 2005. He won’t have the same impact as a rookie as Miller did, but he will play a lot. Freiermuth was just too good to pass at No. 55 and fills a need more next year than this year. Eric Ebron’s days likely are numbered. The Steelers decided to add voidable years to his contract two months ago instead of extending him to create cap room. That likely was because they had an inkling they could score Freiermuth in the draft. Ebron had a solid first year with the Steelers and Freiermuth will provide yet another weapon in an offense full of them. With Zach Gentry and Kevin Rader having one catch among them, added a tight end was a must.

Depth chart (6): Eric Ebron, Pat Freiermuth, Zach Gentry, Kevin Rader, Charles Johnson, Dax Raymond

OFFENSIVE LINE: If you haven’t been paying attention lately, the Steelers are all in on regaining that edge they once had as a physical team. By hiring Adrian Klemm as offensive line coach, drafting Harris, Kendrick Green and Dan Moore Jr. this year, drafting Kevin Dotson last year and signing Zach Banner this offseason, the Steelers have made good strides toward achieving that goal. They want to regain that physical play up-front with a bruising back leading the way. Green didn’t play much at center at Illinois, but it’s hard to imagine that he won’t get thrown into the starting lineup over B.J. Finney or J.C. Hassenauer by the opener. Even Moore has a chance to push Okorafor and recently signed Joe Haeg at left tackle. The Steelers have 10 tackles currently on their roster of 15 offensive linemen. The Steelers have cobbled together a pretty good semblance of a young offensive line in no time. Banner, Dotson and Green could be a dynamic left side of the offensive line for years to come.

Depth chart (15): Chuks Okorafor (LT), Kevin Dotson (LG), Kendrick Green (C), David DeCastro (RG) Zach Banner (RT), J.C. Hassenhauer (C/G), B.J. Finney (C/G), Dan Moore Jr. (T), Joe Haeg (T), Brandon Walton (T), John Leglue (T), Anthony Coyle (T), Aviante Collins (T), Jarron Jones (T), Rashaad Coward (T)

Defense (43)

DEFENSIVE LINE: The defensive line is the heart and soul of the defense, with Cam Heyward and Stephon Tuitt arguably being the best pair of defensive linemen in the league. They are sure paid like it and have produced like it as well. The Steelers did most of their heavy lifting before the draft by getting Tyson Alualu to change his mind and come back to the Steelers instead of going back to Jacksonville. They signed Chris Wormley as well. With the return of Henry Mondeaux, Isaiah Bugg and Carlos Davis, the entire unit from last year is back. The addition of Isaiahh Loudermilk in the fifth round is more for down the road than right now. Depth here is more about who can spell Heyward, Tuitt and Alualu rather than push them three for playing time.

Depth chart (12): Cam Heyward, Tyson Alualu, Stephon Tuitt, Henry Mondeaux, Isaiah Buggs, Carlos Davis, Chris Wormley, Isaiahh Loudermilk, Demarcus Christmas, Calvin Taylor, T.J. Carter, Abdullah Anderson.

LINEBACKERS: The Steelers’ top five linebackers are pretty good. After that, your guess is as good as mine. The Steelers seemingly added any inside and outside linebacker they could during the offseason hoping that one will stick and fix their depth issues. The starting outside linebackers — Watt and Highsmith — are entrenched in their positions. But who will be the No. 3 guy who can help relieve both sides during games? Cassius Marsh is the best bet right now, but don’t be surprised if the Steelers eventually add somebody in free agency. Rookie sixth-rounder Quincy Roche has promise, but he’s going to need seasoning. The inside spot is in a better position with Vince Williams returning after he was released in March to provide veteran depth behind starters Devin Bush and Robert Spillane. Fourth-round rookie Buddy Johnson has a chance to contribute. After that, there are a bunch of longshots the Steelers hope will step up led by Ulysees Gilbert and Marcus Allen. Overall, they are in a better situation than they were at both positions two months ago. At outside linebacker, though, not by much.

Depth chart (16): Devin Bush (ILB), Robert Spillane (ILB), Vince Williams (ILB), Ulysees Gilbert (ILB), Marcus Allen (ILB), Buddy Johnson (ILB) Calvin Bundage (ILB), Miles Killebrew (ILB), Jarvis Miller (ILB), Tegray Scales (ILB), T.J. Watt (OLB), Alex Highsmith (OLB), Cassius Marsh (OLB), Jamir Jones (OLB), Jamar Watson (OLB), Quincy Roche (OLB).

SECONDARY: The Steelers did not address one of their biggest needs in the draft. Not one of their nine selections was a cornerback. Seventh-rounder Tre Norwood is listed as a corner but will be moved to safety. With Steven Nelson and Mike Hilton gone, Cam Sutton will take over a major role on defense. The issue is that he’s their best outside corner besides Joe Haden and by far their best slot corner. Being able to sign Shakur Brown after the draft and the possibility of James Pierre or Justin Layne taking a step forward is their biggest hope. There also is hope for Trevor Williams but it’s only hope at this point. At safety, the Steelers added Norwood in the seventh round and signed Lamont Wade after the draft to go along with last year’s rookie Antoine Brooks Jr. The depth is good, but it hasn’t been necessary. Minkah Fitzpatrick routinely plays 100 percent of the snaps and Terrell Edmunds only comes out when the Steelers use a specialty run-stopping package, seen in games against Baltimore. A long-term injury at safety could be disastrous.

Depth chart (15): Joe Haden (CB), Cam Sutton (CB), Justin Layne (CB), James Pierre (CB), Shakur Brown (CB), Mark Gilbert (CB), Trevor Williams (CB), Stephen Denmark (CB), Minkah Fitzpatrick (S), Terrell Edmunds (S), Antoine Brooks (S), Lamont Wade (S), Donovan Stiner (S), John Battle (S), Tre Norwood (S).

Special teams (6)

SPECIALISTS: It’s not unusual for the Steelers to draft a punter. They’ve done it four times before taking 260-pounder Pressley Harvin III with their final pick of the draft. Dan Sepulveda, Harry Newsome, John Goodson and Craig Colquitt were drafted by the Steelers since 1978 (Colquitt was a third-rounder). The Steelers haven’t had a dominant punter for decades, and Harvin could be that guy. Now, the Steelers have drafted specialists before who didn’t make the team (long snapper Colin Holba), but I wouldn’t expect that with Harvin.

Depth chart (6): Chris Boswell (PK), Jordan Berry (P), Corliss Waitman (P), Pressley Harvin III (P), Kam Canaday (LS), Christian Kuntz (LS).

Projected 2021 Week 1 starting lineup

OFFENSE

QB:Ben Roethlisberger

RB: Najee Harris

WR: JuJu Smith-Schuster

WR:Chase Claypool

WR:Diontae Johnson

TE:Eric Ebron

LT: Chuks Okorafor

LG:Kevin Dotson

C: Kendrick Green

RG:David DeCastro

RT: Zach Banner

DEFENSE

DE:Cam Heyward

NT:Tyson Alualu

DE:Stephon Tuitt

OLB:T.J. Watt

ILB:Devin Bush

ILB: Robert Spillane

OLB:Alex Highsmith

CB: Joe Haden

CB/NB: Cam Sutton

CB/NB: James Pierre

FS:Minkah Fitzpatrick

SS:Terrell Edmunds

SPECIALISTS

PK:Chris Boswell

P: Pressley Harvin III

LS:Kam Canaday

(Photo: Joe Sargent / Getty Images)

Mark Kaboly is a senior writer for The Athletic covering the Pittsburgh Steelers. He joined The Athletic in 2017 and has covered the team since 2002, first for the McKeesport Daily News and then the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Mark, the president of the Pittsburgh chapter of the Pro Football Writers of America, has covered the Steelers in three Super Bowls (XL, XLIII, XLV). Follow Mark on Twitter @MarkKaboly